I've got more news on the Hnidy trade and some other cool news. The Ducks played OK last night, but still need some work. We shall see how the new guy helps get us where we need to be.
Want to raise money for Ducks Care and get a game used stick? Here is where to bid on Rob Niedermayer's stick, Chris Kunitz's stick or Chris Pronger's stick - Link
The January desktop has been posted - Link
The LA Times takes a look at the Hnidy trde and Pahlsson
"It's not healthy for anybody to have eight defensemen," Ducks assistant general manager Bob Murray said. "We had the opportunity to get a guy who has at times in his career scored some goals in bunches.
"It's better for Shane. The first thing he said to me was, 'I didn't play well here. I let you guys down early on here.' "Read the rest here - Link
BOC has a look at the Hnidy trade
The thing about Hnidymayer is that he's fairly frustrating to watch on defense; one second you think that he's in good position to defend a play, the next second he's got his arm wrapped around some forward begging the referees for a holding call.
Still, there's a lesson to be learned about Hnidy: he's not going to be a good top-four option on defense, but he can be a capable bottom-pairing guy. In Hnidy's first seventeen games for Anaheim (played largely without Mathieu Schneider or of course Scott Niedermayer), Shane played some 214 minutes of even-strength hockey, on the ice for 2 goals-for, 9 goals-against. Additionally, he played some 28 minutes shorthanded, on the ice for 3 goals-against there. Basically, he was a bleeder.Read the rest here - Link
Bochenski arrives in Anaheim, Miller sent to Portland
The arrival of newly acquired right wing Brandon Bochenski signaled the departure of Drew Miller.
Miller was assigned to AHL-affiliate Portland after the Ducks traded for Boston’s Bochenski on Wednesday.
Coach Randy Carlyle said it was unfortunate because Miller had been playing his best hockey recently, but he was a victim of a numbers game.
Miller had only two goals and three assists and averaged 11:17 of ice tie in 25 games but showed promise. He briefly filled in for Samuel Pahlsson on the team’s checking line.
Read the rest here - Link
MVN has a look at Miller, Pahlsson and Bochenski
Change is inevitable and the Ducks continue to have plenty of it. Drew Miller was sent to Portland this morning. Miller had been a healthy scratch of late and the numbers just went against him. Coach Randy Carlyle said “It’s unfair to Drew. He was playing his best hockey before we took him out of the line up, but numbers dictated that and we made those decisions. For Drew, desperation has to be there day in, day out. That’s part of the learning process. We think this is the best scenario.” Ryan Carter, Miller’s Portland and Anaheim teammate, commented, “Drew’s a good friend of mine. It’s a numbers game. It’s unfortunate, but he’s a good player. He’ll be back.”
Read the rest here - Link
The OC Register has a look at Bochenski
The Ducks have led the NHL in goals against average with 1.60 per game since the return of defenseman Scott Niedermayer on Dec.16. The flip side is they have scored more than two goals only twice in that span.
Their foundation is stellar defense in front of goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere, and one-goal games like Wednesday's 2-1 victory against Columbus are likely to be common. Any additional offense will go a long way, and Brandon Bochenski could help.
Read the rest here - Link
Bochenski Coverage via AnaheimDucks.com
“I’m excited to be here,” Bochenski said. “Initially it’s sad because you’re leaving friends and family. The more I thought about it, it’s a good opportunity. I think it’s going to give me a chance to play the way that I play and bring to the table what I’m good at.”
Read the rest here - Link
In both college (154 points in 120 games at North Dakota) and in the American Hockey League (183 points in 145 AHL contests), Bochenski has shown a potent knack for scoring. But in three seasons of NHL play with three different teams (Ottawa, Chicago and Boston), Bochenski has not had the same sustained success (47 points in 101 NHL games), although the 25-year-old has shown flashes of his scoring touch (22 points in 31 games with the Bruins last season).
A look at Ryan Carter
With Samuel Pahlsson continuing to nurse an injured abdomen, minutes have been available at the center position on the checking line between Rob Niedermayer and Travis Moen. After Todd Marchant spent the majority of time in the position during the team’s recent road trip through Western Canada, Carter got his chance on the line last night in the Ducks’ return to Honda Center. The rookie flourished, earning the third star of the game with stellar defensive play in a career-high 13:17 of time on the ice in the Ducks’ 2-1 victory over Columbus.
“With injury comes opportunity for other players. Especially as a young player, you need to take advantage of your opportunity,” Carter said on Thursday. “My ice time more than doubled last night (from 6:23 at Vancouver on Dec. 30). I think I needed to prove something to myself, the coaching staff and management. Hopefully, I did that.”Read the rest here - Link
